Loaf’s sticks go stale

Local team struggles at plate, in field in 3-1 loss to Cheyenne

Cheyenne first baseman Landon Lybeck (left) reaches to catch the ball as Loaf ’N Jug’s Michael Downs (right) races down the line on Saturday at Hobbs Field as Cheyenne pitcher Isaac Block looks on. Cheyenne won the game 3-1 at the 34th annual Tony Andecnuio Memorial Tournament. (Chieftain photo/Whitney Hayward)

Team Loaf managed just two hits in dropping a 3-1 decision to Cheyenne (Wyo.) at Hobbs Field.

“We are not hitting the ball right now,” Loaf ‘N Jug manager Mike Sanchez said. “We just have to start making adjustments and put good swings on the ball.”

Loaf (10-8) also dropped an 8-1 decision to Grand Junction in five innings Saturday and enters today’s final day with a 1-4 tournament record. Team Loaf only has scored seven total runs in its four losses.

Against Cheyenne, Loaf ‘N Jug also was hurt by three errors against Cheyenne, two of which resulted in the Wyoming squad’s two runs in the sixth inning. Cheyenne improved its tourney record to 3-2.

The tourney concludes at 7 p.m. today at Hobbs Field with the championship game.

Cheyenne pitcher Isaac Block went the distance, striking out three. He also only allowed three base runners and one was erased on a double play.

“Block has been really good for us,” said Cheyenne coach Tagg Lain, whose team is making its third appearance in the ‘Nuch tourney. “He will be a senior in the fall and we only had him at 62 pitches going into the seventh inning and he threw a good game.”

Loaf starting pitcher Trent Keys gave up an RBI double to Cheyenne’s Greg Ashley in the first inning.

Cheyenne maintained its 1-0 lead until the top of the sixth. Dustin Parker had a two-out single and then the circus began on the next play when Lincoln Trujillo hit a slower grounder to Loaf ‘N Jug third baseman Dalton Drury.

Drury scooped up the ball and then made an errant throw past first baseman Gavin Compton. Parker sped home and scored when Compton overthrew catcher Michael Downs. Trujillo then appeared to get thrown out trying to advance to third, but he was allowed to score because Compton’s throw went into a dead ball area.

“We couldn’t play catch,” Sanchez said about the error-plagued play.

Loaf finally scored in the bottom of the sixth. Downs walked and stole second and third and came home on a ground out to second base by Jericho Breyfogle.

Logen Letofsky had a single in the first inning and Gavin Compton had a single in the second inning. Those were Loaf’s only hits off Cheyenne’s Block. Keys threw a complete-game sixhitter, striking out six.